“A magical thing happens because of this impossible weirdness…”

I want to be Michael Borys when I grow up.

There are few people we’ve had on the podcast who’ve contributed to as many incredible projects as Michael Borys. From worldwide ARGs, to early Disney games and puzzling magic shows, Michael knows a thing about tackling new frontiers. There is a magical alchemy to everything he works on, combining different elements to create new ways of gaming. His latest project, The Arkham Asylum Files: Panic in Gotham City, makes use of augmented reality in a board game. The 49 Boxes combines a magic show with a puzzley escape room play to create a new type of show.

In this special release of our Bonus Aftershow, Michael joins us again. He and David discuss their pool hustling days, talk about integrating magic into puzzles, and delve into the inspirations behind The 49 Boxes. Michael shares intriguing stories about his life, including meeting influential artist Jim Pallas, who gifted him a very special statue. We also explore some of the treasures in Michael’s large collection of magical artifacts, and he tells us about the unique history of the Brookledge theater.

These Bonus Aftershows are usually exclusive to Patreon Supporters. If you enjoyed this episode, consider backing us on Patreon at the $5 level for access to more episodes like this one. Your support truly makes a difference.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

We are immensely grateful to our sponsors this season: Morty App, Buzzshot, and COGS. We truly appreciate your support of our mission to promote and improve the immersive gaming community.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 00:19 Meet Michael Borys: Creator of The 49 Boxes
• 01:01 Inspiration Behind The 49 Boxes
• 01:42 Forrest Gump Philosophy and Life Opportunities
• 04:03 Magical Moments and Synchronicity
• 05:18 David’s Pool Hustling Stories
• 08:35 An Unforgettable Visit to Michael’s Magical Basement
• 11:20 Jim Pallas and The Van Gogh Head

• 18:24 Sponsor Break: Morty App, Buzzshot, and COGS by Clockwork Dog
• 21:30 Collecting and Preserving Artifacts
• 23:18 Using Authentic Artifacts in The 49 Boxes
• 26:12 Theme Park vs. Escape Room Design
• 27:09 Michael’s Love for Escape Rooms
• 28:07 The Influence of MIT Puzzle Hunt
• 30:12 From Personal Struggles to Creative Triumphs
• 30:12 Boing Boing and a Story about Meeting Mark Frauenfelder
• 35:06 The Brookledge Theater
• 37:42 Enter the Matrix: A Forgotten Video Game
• 40:36 The Magic of Self-Working Puzzles
• 40:36 Magic and Game Design
• 44:25 Closing Remarks and RECON Tickets

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About Michael Borys

IG: @borys.michael

Michael is an award-winning designer who has created stories, games, and interactive experiences for the largest brands in the world, including Disney, Warner Brothers, Microsoft, Activision, Paramount, and Sony.

As Vice President of Interaction Design for 42 Entertainment, he crafted some of the most successful audience activation experiences of all time, winning back-to-back Cannes Lions Grand Prix Awards for innovative Alternate Reality Games that engaged millions of participants in dozens of countries around the globe. From Batman to Call of Duty, Michael taps into the collective experience of discovery and play.

Known as a pioneer of immersive storytelling, Michael’s projects span many mediums, from theme park attractions to secret augmented reality, location-based entertainment projects, always exploring new frontiers at the intersection of both the physical world and the virtual. Michael is a magician member of The Magic Castle in Hollywood and his immersive show The 49 Boxes has been performed around the country.

His most recent passion project is a newly released game called The Arkham Files – an immersive experience in which Gotham City and the adventures of Harley Quinn spill into the player’s world. The product is almost 10 pounds of beautifully printed puzzles and 8-10 hours of collaborative experience. Accompanied by a next level AR app that makes the game come alive, Michael hopes to define new categories of gameplay and storytelling – where players become citizens of worlds they love.

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